I have officially given everybody here the illness that I had and about 5 people are now bedridden. Turns out not to be food poisoning, despite undercooked mouton etc. Though I admit with shame I am actually becoming a fan of mouton - didnt think this would ever happen but alas I actually look forward to bean and mounton stew.

Today Lucy is still ill but has managed to force down 3 pain au chocolats, begrudgingly of course. Feeling slightly guilty as havent been in the house much over the last three days but its been a good opportunity to chat to some of the other volunteers.

Today we went on a spontaneous school trip - no parental consent and months of planning needed here apparently. So at 9am the headmaster informed us that we would be going to the stadium. The stadium is quite a big deal here so naturally I was looking forward to it. Its very near my house but Ive never had a real reason to go. Excitement was short lived as it dawned on me that we were in fact taking BOTH classes of 5 year olds, meaning 110 little sweethearts (ho ho). Off we went along the safe street; avoiding potholes and taxis with no steering wheels. Lost about half of the kids on the way, mainly to sweet stalls. One little girl who never speaks but is so cute, the shyest little thing ever, fell over and started limping, before finally giving up and falling flat on her face crying silently (incredibly shy) so I dragged her up, much to the disgust of the teacher who would have been quite happy to leave her I think.

Finally made it to the stadium where I soon found out that is was not just a quiet look around as one might have hoped but in fact a singing lesson in front of the entire St. Louis football team. Soon the dancing had started and it was all in all one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life, and there have been a lot to date. Some poor guy got trapped in the stands inbetween all the kids and spent an hour looking hugely uncomfortable as well as a little irritated. The whole event wasnt helped by hunreds of slightly older kids who were also there shouting "look at the toubab" - yes - the very toubab who was hoping the ground would swallow her up BEFORE the shouting even began.

Didn't believe it could get much worse until the school clown turned up. This is a man who is employed full time to walk around school being a twat. I have a slight objection to the fact that his funniest "trick" is twisting the skin on my arm until I am forced to scream. But all the kids love him and go absolutely mental whenever he says anything. So you can imagine 110 little kids (minus those we lost on the way of course) being let loose with this clown in a stadium..... bedlam doesnt really do it justice. Health and safety clearly not a concern here as the clown pushed kids into eachother until finally there was a massive pile on with everybody crying and a lot of cut knees and ripped clothes (and broken friendships a plenty). Had to help another crowd of limping kids back to school where creepy teacher was waiting for them.

As we approached creepy teacher he was just standing in the yard holding a toilet flush. Couldnt quite understand why until he accused one of the kids of stealing the other flush from the toilet (turns out the flush he was holding had been ripped off of the only remaining toilet merely to use as an example). After a thorough bag search, no flush was uncovered and lessons were allowed to commence at which point my teacher announced she had something to do and I should teach the kids new words. Quite happy to do this in a large group because a lot of the kids are strong readers so its not so much of a problem as when you just work with a small group. The idea is they all repeat it constantly until they know it and I have shocked myself at how harsh I can be trying to make them learn it. Before she left Adama told the class keen, Fama (serious kiss ass) to look out for the children who were naughty and she would smack them. Adama doesnt trust me with this task because although I dont object to a tap, I would never willingly subject any of the kids, no latter how bad they were, to the full punishment. Well little Fama took this as a license to send anyone she vaguely disliked to the torture chamber that is creepy teachers room. It was horrendous to watch as one little boy got so scared of going he ran and clung on to my leg (admittedly was quite scared myself at this point as the boy is covered in warts and I found Snuffy hard enough to deal with and thats in the family) hyperventilating until he collapsed screaming - he still got a huge smack. About 6 others were sent to go to get punished when Adama got back (Fama had informed her of the naughtiest culripts, none of who I had found particularly troublesome but try arguing with the prodigy that is Fama) and fifteen minutes later they all staggered back in such a hysterical state that I actually cried. The tiniest little girls were clutching their faces and then creepy teacher walked past the rool with some sort of electric hot wire, so I sense they all were given a burn. He looked in and asked if they were all behaving now, to which I replied theyd never been naughty and he just shrugged and said they needed to be punished. Tried to console each one of them until Adama returned, telling me to leave them alone - at the risk of being a serious cringe yet again, it was heart breaking. The saddest one was this little girl who always wears a hat and sits by herself, as after the punishment she just sat in her little green seat hugging her toy duck and sobbing. So yet again I felt the injustices of the system, though tomorrow Ill probably want to kill them all again. But a postive point is I have taught them all the hitting game and its caught on well.

Working in the talibe centre tomorrow - 7am start and giving them all breakfast should be cute.

Am a quizmaster at a quiz we have written tonight. As much as we tried to think of intellectual questions the whole quiz consists of celebrity gossip with a little bit of literature chucked in. Am wetting myself at having to read it out but quite looking forward to it too.

Must go as literally the hottest I have ever been so far but hope all is well and missing you of course xxx

p.s. hzve joined the pool for a month so no more excuses - shame its right by a patisserie.